UKSaabs

Did the fix, mixture of biro and foam tape, pretty much fixed it, one line not perfect but I can live with that. Will wait and see how long ot lasts...

Hiya, decided I'd have a crack at this "biro" thing, my SID2 has only 2 screws on outer casing, am I being a cabbage?

Moorzee wrote:Hiya, decided I'd have a crack at this "biro" thing, my SID2 has only 2 screws on outer casing, am I being a cabbage?

For 1st time in a long time I wasn't being a cabbage. There was only 2. I then had to "flip" off a panel that was catching on the pin housing.

*Edit, it didn't work either, worse if anything I'll send it off

You are a legend, only thing not working in my 9-5 was the climate control screen. With it's new and improved draught excluder tape modification, it works a treat!

Why You just don't buy a new ribbon cable off eBay (only 11 pounds), and resolder it?
I've done it for a few friends - its quite easy, works like a charm, and lasts really longer than tapes, heating and other temp. fixes (also tried those things).

Hi guys , bin searching for a few hours for the answer to this:
I have a 1998 9-5 without climate control but I have air conditioning (normal 3 buttons and 4 knobs), do you know if i buy 1 of these climate control SIDs/control panels(loads on eaby for cheap) will it effectively give me climate control?
Or is there some temp sensors or other processor units/looms i would need to go with it?
would b a nice upgrade if it would work as a plug and play kinda job!
any info welcome!!
thanks

Hi all, can anyone help? My climate control screen is cracked, and just has an orange blob on it. I am comfortable with replacing this myself, but does anyone konw where I can buy a cheap replacement screen? Apologies if this has already been asked, but I couldn't find a post on it. I have a 1998 9-3. Thanks in advance.

Willee wrote:Hi all, can anyone help? My climate control screen is cracked, and just has an orange blob on it. I am comfortable with replacing this myself, but does anyone konw where I can buy a cheap replacement screen? Apologies if this has already been asked, but I couldn't find a post on it. I have a 1998 9-3. Thanks in advance.

Try a post in the "parts wanted" section of the classifieds on here....

Oh, and welcome!

johno wrote:I noticed we dont have a how to fix here on UKSaabs (well, I couldnt find one) so heres mine with pics, hope it helps some 9-5 owners with missing pixels

Thanks so much for this, johno. Worked perfectly on my 2002 9-5. I honestly didn't expect it to - the foam seems to put so much pressure onto everything that I thought something would break. But no. I have a perfect SID2.

Hi all,

I had the same problem with the Saab Information Displays of our 9-3 SE Turbo Convertible (MY2000).
After ironing the cable and filling the space between cable and display with tape and foam, I was not happy with the result: some pixels disappeared once and a while, other pixels were not working at all.

Two weeks ago I decided to replace the ribbon cable from the SID with a new one. An experiment was born

On the internet I found an instruction video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBUg1Zrw6e8) and the webcompany (located in Hungaria) where these type of ribbons for SID and ACC , and also the bulbs, are for sale (http://www.pixelfix.net/eng/saab.html). I ordered a cable and a set of bulbs. Strange that there are five bulbs in the package while my SID has six bulbs... After three days I received an envelope with the parts and an instruction paper: the SID repairing process could begin!

It took me more than one hour to repair the SID. The hardest part for me was installing the ribbon cable on the display: you need very good eyes to see these (for me) 'invisible' connections. I did not use the white foam part for filling the space between the display and the rubber, the space was in my opinion too narrow to use also the foam, The rubber strip for pressing the contacts will do in my situation the work.

Result: the Convertible has a brand new looking SID. All pixels are working.
I replaced the two bulbs from the buttons, the ones from the display were replaced a year ago by a Saab dealer. Looks great.

Best regards,
Dennis
The Netherlands

just bought a hot aero 250 bhp,golf v5 writeoff.
wow is the first thing i will say quickest car i have had(bmw 318s coupe auto,bmw 525 i se manual,golf v5 manual?)
i have had a look at history and 2 owners ago payed someone to do sid around £70 2011.
when i start car up all pixals are there, just slowly disappear.
what im trying to say is if a professional cant doit i dont think it is worth trying.
they also go in the audi,had an a5!

Someone asked early in this thread what the spec/part number is for the little bulbs which go behind the buttons in the SID, but I don't think anyone answered. Does anyone know please? A few of mine are dead and I'd like to get replacements - got a few intermittent missing pixels too so am planning the sticky pad fix at the same time as bulb replacement.

EDIT - Ignore this, I've found the bulbs I need by simply looking on eBay for "SAAB SID Bulbs". Got an 8-pack for a tenner.

There are two guys fixing SIDs now, for a lot less than £70 and they give a lifetime guarantee. I tried the foam method on mine but it only lasted about 6 weeks.

www.saabdisplayrepairs.co.uk
www.sidmaster.co.uk

I've got a feeling that ambient temperature is the key to the pixels working properly. When I bought my car a month a go it had been stood outside for several months unused, getting cold, and only about 75% of the pixels were working. Over the last few weeks as I've been using the car every day and garaging it, I'm usually getting 100% pixels, with the occasional drop out. The day I noticed it had "fixed itself" was a day when it had been parked in direct sunlight all afternoon and the interior was very warm. Now noticing that a few pixels are missing early morning, yet throughout the day it gets better and better.

Still, I'm going to get it out to replace the blown bulbs so I will shove some of those foam pads in, hoping that I don't hamfistedly make things worse.

Well the bulb replacement worked well. But the foam pads actually made the pixel loss worse to start with. So I it dismantled again (and again), and added extra layers of pads, so there are three on each side of the ribbon now. Getting the case back on was a struggle, but I've still got a missing row of pixels. My OCS won't allow this situation so I've bought an allegedly fully working SID off eBay today for £32 inc delivery. I enjoyed the challenge of the fix but obviously there's something in mine that's too far gone.

Replacement SID arrived, but despite being advertised as "good working order", 50% of the pixels were out. Refund requested, back to square one.

My "How to" guide for replacing the ribbon was never pinned (posted in the Workshop section).

For £11.59, I replaced my cable with no issues at all.

Took about the same length of time as the biro/sticky pad fix, but as long as you have steady hands is a guaranteed fix.

All the bulbs in the SID (for screen & buttons) are T5 neo wedge bulbs.

My thread was/is here